Property based image modulation for formation visualization

Abstract

A graphical representation of an image of a subterranean formation along with log properties of the formation provided in a single graphical representation. Logged formation property values are coded into graphic representations of images of the formation in order to provide a graphical representation which allows the user to visually perceive the formation images and the logged formation properties simultaneously. A method may include receiving an image of a formation, the image including image values based on the formation, and also receiving a log property of the formation, the log property including log property values based on the formation. The log property values of the formation are correlated to corresponding locations in the image. A transfer function with the image values and the correlated log property values as inputs is determined. Based on the transfer function, a joint graphical representation of the image and the log property is rendered.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 receiving an image of a formation, the image comprising image values based on the formation; 
 receiving a log property of the formation, the log property comprising log property values based on the formation; 
 correlating locations of the log property values of the formation to corresponding locations in the image; 
 determining a transfer function with the image values and the correlated log property values as inputs; 
 wherein the transfer function is represented as:
     F   i [ v ( x   1   ,x   2   ,x   3 ), u ( y )] 
 wherein
 i enumerates components of a color space and optionally opacity, 
 v is a value of the formation image at a location with coordinates (x 1 ,x 2 ,x 3 ), 
 u is the value of the log property at the location with coordinate y associated with the locations (x 1 ,x 2 ,x 3 ) of the image; 
 
 
 rendering a joint graphical representation of the image and the log property based on the transfer function; and 
 visualizing the joint graphical representation on a screen. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, taking an image of a sample extracted from a downhole formation to obtain the image of the formation. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the image of the formation is obtained from within a wellbore. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the log property of the formation is measured on a sample extracted from a downhole formation. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the log property of the formation is measured from within a wellbore. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation comprises a representation of the image of the formation appearing combined with a representation of the log property across a surface area of the image. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer function comprises relating the image to a graphical element and a location of the graphical element in the graphical representation. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising mapping the image values via a look up table having the image value matched to components of the transfer function. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rendering comprises defining the components of elements of graphical representation. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein components of the transfer function comprise opacity and/or color. 
     
     
       11. The method of any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the image is a two-dimensional image. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the two dimensional image is acquired via one or more members selected from the group of white-lite, UV-light, X-Ray projection, acoustic, resistivity or thin section photography. 
     
     
       13. The method of any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the image is a three-dimensional image. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the three-dimensional image is acquired via one or more members selected from computerized tomography (CT), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 
     
     
       15. The method of any one of  claim 1 ,  4 , or  5 , wherein the log property comprises one or more selected from the group of weight fractions of chemical elements, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), spectral gamma ray counts, mineral composition using X-ray diffraction (XRD), porosity, absolute and relative permeability, density, pore and pore throat size distributions, bulk density, porosity, photoelectric effect (PE), mineral fractions distribution, fluid saturation and composition, permeability and other fluid flow characteristics, mineral composition, elastic and geo-mechanical properties, rock types, and formation types. 
     
     
       16. A system comprising:
 one or more processors; and 
 at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
 receiving an image of a formation, the image comprising image values based on the formation; 
 receiving a log property of the formation, the log property comprising property values based on the formation; 
 correlating locations of the log property values of the formation to corresponding locations in the image; 
 determining a transfer function with the image values and the correlated log property values as inputs;
 wherein the transfer function is represented as:
     F   i [ v ( x   1   ,x   2   ,x   3 ), u ( y )] 
 
 wherein
 i enumerates components of a color space and optionally opacity, 
 v is a value of the formation image at a location with coordinates (x 1 ,x 2 ,x 3 ), 
 u is the value of the log property at the location with coordinate y associated with the location (x 1 ,x 2 ,x 3 ) of the image; 
 
 
 rendering a joint graphical representation of the image and the log property based on the transfer function; and 
 visualizing the joint graphical representation on a screen. 
 
 
     
     
       17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
 receive an image of a formation, the image comprising image values based on the formation; 
 receive a log property of the formation, the log property comprising property values based on the formation; 
 correlate locations of the log property values of the formation to corresponding locations in the image; 
 determine a transfer function with the image values and the correlated log property values as inputs; and 
 wherein the transfer function is represented as:
     F   i [ v ( x   1   ,x   2   ,x   3 ), u ( y )] 
 wherein
 i enumerates components of a color space and optionally opacity, 
 v is a value of the formation image at a location with coordinates (x 1 ,x 2 ,x 3 ), 
 u is the value of the log property at the location with coordinate y associated with the location (x 1 ,x 2 ,x 3 ) of the image; 
 
 visualizing the joint graphical representation on a screen.